Yanshi, the Ashford family home.
"Mom, let me marry into the Caldwell family. I've lived off the Ashfords for so many years. It's only right I give something back. As for my sister... she may be a little slow, but she's the Ashfords' real daughter after all."
The second Stella Ashford finished speaking, Helena Ashford pulled her straight into her arms.
"You silly girl! What are you even saying?" Helena's voice was full of heartache. "I can't bear to part with your sister either, but with her condition, marrying into the Caldwell family means she won't have to worry about food or clothes for the rest of her life. For her, that's not a bad thing."
As she spoke, she lifted her foot and kicked the girl who was still stuffing rice into her mouth, clearly annoyed.
"Oww... it hurts..." Aurora Ashford's lips trembled at once. Her eyes reddened, and she looked pitiful as she whimpered. There was still sauce and a few grains of rice stuck at the corner of her mouth.
"Tch."
The sound of disgust rang out immediately.
"Just look at her. What's the point of keeping her in this house? We might as well send her to the Caldwell family. At least the company can catch its breath that way." Howard Ashford's tone was packed with impatience and contempt.
On the surface, Aurora looked blank and dull, like she understood nothing.
But inside, she was crystal clear.
A faint curve tugged at her lips, cold and mocking.
Three months ago, she had been brought back from a tiny mountain village. That was when she found out her biological parents were someone else entirely.
But after returning, she realized the truth soon enough.
They hadn't brought her back to make up for all the missing years of family love.
They had brought her back so she could marry in place of the girl who had taken over her life.
"All you know how to do is eat! Fine. You're getting married tomorrow. Better that than staying here and embarrassing us!" In the end, Howard made the final call, firm and absolute.
The moment those words landed, the very last bit of hope Aurora had for the Ashford family vanished completely.
On the day the Caldwell family came to pick her up, Helena prepared a long linen dress for Aurora.
As long as she kept her mouth shut, she actually looked gentle and pretty, soft in a quiet sort of way.
Howard was clearly satisfied with the look, but he still didn't forget to warn her.
"After you get to the Caldwell family, talk less. If anything needs handling, let Mrs. Hayward do it whenever possible. And if you say something wrong, I'll send you right back, and you can stay forever in that filthy, run-down mountain village!"
"N-no talking... I'll be good... good girl... hic..." Aurora shrank behind Helena as if frightened, even hiccuping from nerves. That only made the disgust on Howard's face deepen.
The Caldwell family was an old powerhouse, with a foundation built over a hundred years.
The moment Aurora Ashford appeared, everyone in the Caldwell family was visibly stunned.
She looked so obedient and sweet that people warmed to her almost at once. Arthur Caldwell, especially, was delighted. "The Ashfords really put thought into this. You're Little Mu, right? Come on, I'll take you to see Sebastian."
Aurora nodded like a well-behaved child and followed Arthur upstairs.
They went down a long hallway before entering Sebastian Caldwell's room.
Inside, there was only the faint smell of disinfectant and the cold, rhythmic beeping of the monitors.
"Wow, this big brother is so pretty!" Aurora suddenly blurted out.
The second Mrs. Hayward heard that silly, childlike line and instantly grabbed Aurora's hand, lowering her voice as she spoke fast. "If you want a lollipop, then don't talk."
Aurora immediately covered her mouth, but her eyes stayed wide and round.
Arthur froze for a second.
Why did this girl suddenly seem a little... different?
